Connecticut’s largest city remains the state leader in population, new U.S. Census Bureau figures show. The top five cities: Bridgeport, 144,229; New Haven, 129,779; Hartford, 124,775; Stamford, 122,643; and Waterbury, 110,366. The order did not change from 2000. From the Hartford Courant:
The state grew increasingly diverse in the past decade, with double-digit gains among the Asian, Hispanic and black populations, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows.
When categorized by race, the largest percentage gain was in the Asian population, which grew 63.9 percent, from 93,511 in 2000 to 153,269 in 2010, the figures show. Next was the Hispanic or Latino population, which rose 49.6 percent, from 320,323 to 479,087, followed by the black or African American population, up 14.8 percent, from 318,619 to 365,707.
The non-Hispanic white population fell 3.1 percent, from 2.68 million to 2.60 million, the census figures show.
Overall, the state population grew 4.9 percent, from 3.41 million 3.57 million.
Eastern Connecticut saw the greatest percentage gains in population.
By far, Tolland County saw the greatest percentage increase — 12.0 percent — of any of the state’s eight counties, followed by Windham County (8.6 percent), Middlesex County (6.8 percent) and New London County (5.8 percent).
The numbers are part of a batch of data released by the Census Bureau Wednesday afternoon. State officials will use the new information to redraw legislative boundaries.
The information, shipped overnight to state officials, includes population totals as well as statistics on race, Hispanic origin and voting age for a number of geographical breakdowns such as cities and voting districts.
Although the greatest percentage increases in population were in eastern Connecticut, the counties gaining the most people — though proportionately smaller increases — were in Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven counties:
Fairfield County increased 34,262, from 882,567 in 2000 to 916,829 in 2010, up 3.9 percent.
Hartford County increased 36,831, from 857,183 in 2000 to 894,014 in 2010, up 4.3 percent.
New Haven County increased 38,469, from 824,008 in 2000 to 862,477 in 2010, up 4.7 percent.
The release of these figures continues Bridgeport as 10% to 20% larger by population than the other cities of size in CT.
We recently have been reminded that the three largest cities are also relatively small in land area indicating resident density that also adds up to property tax problems when Grand Lists are compared and government, religious, and not for profit property are removed and the balance of land available for sustainable development (brownfields?) or maintenance as commercial or residential can be compared.
Two of the four largest cities are in Fairfield County, Bridgeport and Stamford. The character and nature of the Cities and their ability to carry their burdens, grow and/or thrive are very different today. The “halfway house” controversy indicated the largest cities, or at least three of them, have been chosen by some to bear the burdens without expense reimbursement for that service. That is obviously not sustainable nor is it regionalism at its best.
Our size (and it does matter) differs in population (large) and land area (small); and our financial capacity as measured by property taxes relative to property values (large) and our “rainy day balances” (small); and thence to our needs for “cash flow assistance” (large and getting larger in the form of annually resorting to tax anticipation note financing that has interest costs as well as 100% repay requirements from next year’s budget) and information to the public about our budget difficulties (really tiny).
Public listening? Large or small?
Participation in various City meetings? Large or small?
Use of numerous citizen voices to advocate for: municipal changes, Charter reforms, living up to current Charter responsibilities, etc.? If you are listening, what do you hear?
BEACON2 // Mar 9, 2011 at 5:24 pm
To your posting
B2,
I hear you loud and clear, and your analysis is accurate, painfully accurate.
It will take an enormous amount of political willpower to take apart and fix all the broken parts of Bridgeport’s City Government.
My candidate, John M. Gomes knows where to start:
De-populate the parasites who are currently bleeding the system dry.
Open up the books and stop manipulating the numbers so there is no longer favoritism for a select few rather than the 144k people of this City, who should be the beneficiaries.
And if you have a candidate willing to go out and walk and talk to people, not hide in the 999 bunker, then the public will listen.
There are hundreds of steps to be taken to restore trust and credibility. Gomes is ready.
The numbers don’t add up … the ones in the CT Post this morning … Go to page A6 and look at the chart on Cities and Towns. In 2010 Bridgeport is listed as having 144,229 people resident, of whom 39.6% are classified White + 34.6% classified as Black + 38.2% classified as Hispanic + 3.4% in the Asian category. My goodness … that adds up to 115.8%!!! Perhaps if we locate that impossibly silent extra 15.8% we will have more voters at local elections and taxpayers carrying that burden???
Well, rather than look for the 15.8% it might be better for the statisticians at the Post to recheck their numbers (for other towns, too) and post a revised tabulation. We all make mistakes but often not so obvious!!!
I am a subscriber to, reader of and letter writer to the CT Post. So I was surprised to receive a telephone offer recently to subscribe to the Sunday Post. Surprised because I get it delivered already. For $.20 more per week I could get another full edition. In my case I did not see an advantage in getting two copies, spending an extra $10.00 per year and increasing my paper recycling content. It was explained to me that the value of the coupons from two papers would exceed the extra cost. Are distribution numbers for the paper decreasing to such an extent that this offer has become real??? Anyone else receive the offer?
Beacon,
Some people identify with more than one race/ethnicity. I’m sure this is why the numbers don’t add up to 100%.
Beware of people who write lengthy posts that end in multiple questions.
What this means is
Approx. 144,200 of Bridgeport’s residents are taking it up the a$$ from Finch and the Calamarians.
Mr. Bpt, please say what you really mean. Don’t soft-soap your thoughts. Let your feelings out, express your innermost. Don’t palaver or beguile, say what’s on your mind.
OK Jimfox,
I think it’s time you put down the crack pipe long enough to escape your drug-induced stupor and stop acting like a wandering retard. Your innermost thoughts should be kept to yourself.
I hope I’ve made my point.
Mr. BPT has a creative way of using his keyboard.
But if you want to create your own census in Bridgeport (wink); you better have one of these:
BridgeportCTUSA@gmail.com
One of the things we have to do and I would guess it would require a charter change or at the very least an ordinance change or addition.
At the present time we have 20 members of the common council who are elected to represent ALL the citizens of Bridgeport. These 20 for the most part are only looking out for themselves in many instances. The city employees or the ones with family members working for the city have been neutralized as representatives of the people by this administration.
They are afraid of jobs being lost as a result of a vote against anything this administration wants. Perfect example was the addition to the agenda on the night of their meeting of the $110 million in Tan funding. This clearly missed the filing deadline but yet got on the agenda and was voted in without many questions.
How do we stop this lemming approach to government?
We need to protect the city employees and their relatives from retribution for a vote against what the administration wants no matter how right the vote was.
We can enact an ordinance or change the charter and protect these representatives of the people. We do it with union officers who are protected when layoffs come, why not representatives on the council?
Maybe by doing this we will get some honest votes and some votes that will clearly tell the administration they are traveling down the wrong road.
Right now we are not getting those votes and we are not getting the representation we deserve. The city as a whole is suffering from the present system and this group that is now in office is driving the city off a cliff.
We can’t stop city workers from seeking and obtaining office so let’s take the fear of retribution away from the administration once and for all.
TC
I think Tom Lombard’s suggestion was one of the best. Change the Charter–That no one party holds more than 51% of the City Council.
That would stop all the BS that goes on.
We have that in the vote registrars’ office and on the Board of Ed. That’s not working out too well. Where does the 49% come from? Which district? Under Tom’s scenario one could win his/her election and still not get the position.
I think Tom’s suggestion would be a good idea for a Financial Advisory Board that had some teeth. I guess I am referring to a board like they have in Fairfield.
Extended poll hours (again). Vote OIB the best blog. Last day or night to vote. Bridgeport in the know is trying to beat out OIB. Sorry, no absentee ballots.
www .fairfieldweekly.com/votingregistration.html
*** Population explosion in the Park City and it’s getting a bit crowded, no? *** Waiting to exhale! ***
The #1 City in Connecticut should look to create the model for urban living. The largest City has the highest unemployment and those that do work, do it out of town. Where’s the economic development? Build it, they will come? DUH! They’re already here! We have the market now, we need the investments. Finch and Co. are the only business in town making money. Time to put them in foreclosure and let this City live up to its title of #1.
Here’s why Bridgeport’s population continues to grow:
linkbaitgenerator.com/index.php
We’re all watching this!
hint: click “generate” to laugh again & again